Whats the most reliable AR15 rifle off the shelf? Yes, I used the search feature with little success. I'd just like to hear everyones opinions. I dont care if its DI or piston, i just like to hear what everyone thinks is the most reliable right out of the box. Thanks for any opinions.

For proven reliability, I would say a Colt 6920. Lots of law enforcement agencies use them. I have one and it has been 100% reliable. Piston guns run cleaner, but can be difficult at times to get at the piston system depending on the make. If you go with a piston system in the AR platform, try LMT. I have one of the LMT CQB Piston Rifles and it is a breeze to clean and maintain.

Outside of the AR line, my vote for best reliability is a Robinson XCR. No carrier tilt, piston driven, three lug AK type bolt carrier and rock solid.

LWRC, Noveske, and Daniel Defense make great ARs as well at are very reliable.

I owned two Bushmasters, and a S&W Mp15. I traded them all in, and bought a Colt 6920. I would never buy another mp15 or bushy ever again, but I am highly interested in a BCM, LMT, and a Noveske. So time will tell on which is my next AR. So the bottom line get a Colt, because if you ever wanted to sell it you`ll get 90% or better in the resell.

Originally Posted By CovertChannels:For proven reliability, I would say a Colt 6920. Lots of law enforcement agencies use them. I have one and it has been 100% reliable. Piston guns run cleaner, but can be difficult at times to get at the piston system depending on the make. If you go with a piston system in the AR platform, try LMT. I have one of the LMT CQB Piston Rifles and it is a breeze to clean and maintain.

Outside of the AR line, my vote for best reliability is a Robinson XCR. No carrier tilt, piston driven, three lug AK type bolt carrier and rock solid.

LWRC, Noveske, and Daniel Defense make great ARs as well at are very reliable.

I've actually been looking at the XCR series as of late. That me be the next route for me to go!

I think the question should have been "which manufacturer makes the best quality out of box rifle." Like those stated before, BCM, Noveske, Colt, Sabre, Knights, LMT, are all top teir brands. Of course you will pay more but the quality can be felt and seen. If your on a budget, STAG IMO makes an incredible rifle for the price. I have a STAG model 1 and never once had a problem, Plus i just ordered a new sabre saturday!!! =D

In the safe I have a few Noveske's, (2) KAC E3's, (2) LWRC's, and a LMT. Neither one has ever had an issue. I want to add a Colt 6920 and a BCM so I can have most of the rifles many suggest to be the most reliable.

It depends on how hard you run them. If you really run your AR, and not only shoot a few "hundred rounds at your range without a hiccup", only a few ones will survive trough anything you throw at them: Colt, LMT, BCM, Noveske, the chart is there to help you. And I'm talking only about complete AR's from the factory.

If you build your AR-15 yourself, you can build an extremely dependable AR (equal to Colt, for example) by choosing quality key components, such as the BCG and the barrel. The major brands that make quality components that will not fail, are LMT, BCM, Colt (if you can get the parts), or Charles Daily and such, Daniel Defense and such, and that's pretty much it. The reason is that they are are tested and inspected individually (test fired, Shot Peened, MP Inspected, have the right military specs, etc), and the parts that are not perfect don't get out of the factory,

Every AR will go bang, it's a proven fact, but not every AR will survive the shits and still go bang when you pull the boom switch, especially if the major components are not the highest quality (BCG and barrel.)

I will get all sorts of replys for this, and that can only mean one thing, I hurt their feelings right in the nutz.

If you buy 10 different brands of AR15s and run 500 rounds through each one of them over the course of one year with no failures, that would mean that each one was 100% reliable. If you stretch that number out to, let's say, 10K rounds a year the story may be a little different.

Generally I would go with Colt, BCM, LMT and throw in premium brands like KAC, Noveske and LaRue. Hard to find ones that would be overall more reliable than that lot. But it all comes down to how much you are shooting and the type of shooting you are doing. A Bushmaster, RRA or DPMS could provide you with years of troublefree use. I wouldn't want any of those, but only because the price difference between them and a BCM or Colt is really not all that much.